"Innocence"

Based on the Episode Written by Joss Whedon

The following story is copyright © 2022 by Mark Moore.

Cordelia stirred in Angel's bed and reached over for him. She opened her eyes, suddenly wide awake when she didn't find him there, and looked around. She sat up in bed. Outside, it was still raining hard, and lightning struck. She looked around the room again, but Angel was nowhere to be seen.

"Angel?" Cordelia called.

Receiving no response, Cordelia slowly put her clothes back on while waiting for the rain to let up.

After retrieving her car from the warehouse and driving home, Cordelia quietly opened the kitchen door of her house, looked around, walked in, and carefully closed the door behind her. She kept an eye out for her mother as she went around to the stairs. Once there, she started up, stomping rather loudly.

"Morning."

Cordelia stopped her ascent and went back down a few steps. Her mother came over to the base of the staircase.

"Morning."

"So...did you have fun last night?" Charisma Chase asked her.

"Fun?" Cordelia asked, nervous.

"At Harmony's."

"Yeah." Cordelia smiled. "Yeah, fun at Harmony's."

"You hungry?"

"No. Uh, no, I've had my fill. I-I'm, uh, just gonna go take a shower."

Charisma folded her arms and looked up at Cordelia curiously. "Is something wrong?"

Cordelia's eyes went wide, but she quickly regained her composure. "No." She shook her head. "What would be wrong?"

Her mother stared at her. "I don't know. You just look..." She shook her head, smiled, and went into the dining room.

Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief and headed up the stairs.

Katrina walked into the school library. Giles looked up at her.

"Well, the bus depot was a total washout."

Jenny and Tara looked at her, concerned. Amy and Harmony, sitting on the counter, also were worried.

"No vampires transporting boxes?" Giles asked Katrina.

"No, but a four-hundred-pound wino offered to wash my hair." Katrina looked at everyone. "What's up? Where's Cordy?"

Harmony shook her head, worried. "She never checked in."

Giles sighed. "If the bus depot is as empty as the...docks and the airport..."

"Do you think this Judge guy's already been assembled?" Amy asked him.

"Yes."

"Then Cordy could be..." Harmony shuddered. "Okay, we gotta find 'em. Um, we gotta go to that place, that, uh, that factory. That's where they're holed up, right?" She hopped down and looked at all of them. "Let's go."

Giles looked at her. "Now, Harmony, i-i-if Cordelia and Angel were - were...harmed, then we don't stand to fare much better."

Tara shook her head. "No, Harmony's right! We're going to the factory!" She started walking toward the exit.

"Yeah!" Harmony followed her.

Amy hopped down and followed them. Katrina followed as well.

Just then, Cordelia walked into the library.

"Cordy!" Harmony exclaimed, grinning. "We were just going to rescue you." She threw Giles a dirty look. "Well, some of us were."

"Well, I-I would have."

"Where's Angel?" Jenny asked Cordelia.

"He didn't check in with you guys?" Cordelia asked in surprise.

Giles shook his head. "No."

"What happened?" Harmony asked Cordelia.

Giles stared at Cordelia. "The Judge, i-is he-"

"No assembly required. He's active."

"Oh, damn it." Giles removed his glasses.

"He nearly killed us. Angel got us out."

"Why didn't you call?" Giles asked her. "We - We - We thought-"

"Well, we - we had to hide. Uh, we got stuck in the sewer tunnels, and, with the hiding, we just split up..." Cordelia paused. "Uh, no one's heard from him?"

Harmony offered her a smile. "I'm sure he'll come by."

"Yeah, I'm - I'm sure you're right."

Giles stared at Cordelia seriously. "Cordelia, the Judge, we - we must stop him."

"I know."

"What can you tell us?"

"Not much. I, um...I kicked him. It was just like a sudden fever. If he'd got his hands on me-"

"In time, he won't need to. The stronger he gets, he'll be able to reduce us to charcoal with a look."

"Also, not the prettiest man in town."

"I better continue researching, must look for a weak spot. The rest of you should get to your classes."

Jenny nodded. "Yeah, I better go, too."

They all started out. Cordelia was the first one out the door.

Harmony went after her. "Cordy, wait up!"

Jenny stopped on the way out and looked at Giles. "I'll, uh, go on the 'Net and search for anything on the Judge."

"Thank you."

Tara looked at Giles. "After classes, I'll come back and help you research."

"Thank you, Tara."

Harmony walked out of the library. Cordelia was about to go up the stairs when Harmony caught up and stopped her.

"You don't think Angel would have gone after the Judge himself, do you?" Harmony asked her.

"No, he'd know better than that. Maybe he just needed..." Cordelia paused and shook her head. "I don't know. I just - I wish he'd contact me. I need to talk to him."

They started up the stairs. Jenny looked around the corner and watched them go up.

After school, in the library, Tara walked by the counter, looking through a book. Amy and Katrina were sitting on top of the counter, also studying books. Giles was in his office, reading through yet another book.

Harmony was on the phone with Cordelia. "Okay. No, no, he didn't, but I'm sure he'll-"

"Ugh! I wish I knew what he was doing!" Cordelia interrupted.

"Well, Cordy, he probably has some plan, and he's trying to protect you."

"Like what?" Cordelia asked her.

"Well, I-I don't know what. I'm not in on the plan. It's his plan."

"Oh, God, what if he's dead?!" Cordelia asked.

"No. Don't even say that! Angel is not dead."

"Are you guys gonna be at the library still?" Cordelia asked her.

"Yeah, of course we'll be here."

"All right. I'll check in with you later. I'm gonna check his apartment first."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

Harmony hung up and looked at the others. "She's checked every place she can think of. She even beat up Willy the snitch a couple of times. Angel's vanished."

Giles stood in his doorway. "But he does do that on occasion, no?"

"Oh, yeah, but she's extra wigged this time. I guess 'cause of her dreams. God, what if something really happened to him?" Harmony asked.

"Is she gonna join us here?" Giles asked her.

"Yeah. She's just stopping at his apartment first."

Amy slammed her book shut. "Nada."

Katrina slammed her book shut as well.

"Did you find anything?" Amy asked her.

Katrina shook her head. "This book mentions the Judge but nothing useful. Big, scary, no weapon forged can stop him, took an army to take him down. Blah, blah, blah."

"We need some insight, a weak spot."

"Well, we're not gonna find it here."

Cordelia opened the door to Angel's apartment, walked in, and closed it behind her. She walked over to the bed and saw it had been made. One of his shirts was laid out on it. She went over to the bed and reached for the shirt. Cordelia heard something, turned, and saw him standing behind her, shirtless.

"Angel!" Cordelia ran to him.

"Hey!"

"Oh!"

"Hey."

Cordelia kissed him, and they hugged.

"Oh, my God! I was so worried!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Where did you go?"

"Been around."

"Ohhh. Oh, my God!" Cordelia hugged him again. "I was freaking out! You just disappeared."

"What? I took off." Angel went to his bed for the shirt.

Cordelia was confused. "But you didn't say anything. You just left."

Angel pulled on the shirt. "Yeah. Like I really wanted to stick around after that."

"What?"

"You got a lot to learn about men, kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night."

"What are you saying?"

"Let's not make an issue out of it, okay?" Angel went for his coat. "In fact, let's not talk about it at all." He pulled it on. "It happened."

"I-I don't understand. Was it m-me?" Cordelia asked meekly. "Was I not good?"

Angel laughed. "You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro."

"How can you say this to me?" Cordelia asked on the verge of tears.

"Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal."

"It is a big deal!"

"It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies?" Angel laughed. "Come on, Cordy. It's not like I've never been there before." He reached his hand up to her face.

Cordelia jerked back. "Don't touch me."

Angel shook his finger at her. "I should've known you wouldn't be able to handle it." He started to go.

"Angel!" Cordelia yelled.

He stopped and faced her.

Cordelia stared at him, teary-eyed. "I love you."

Angel pointed coolly at her. "Love you, too." He turned away. "I'll call you."

He went out the door. Cordelia could only watch him go, extremely upset and confused.

Buffy and her mother were sitting at the island in the kitchen. Joyce had ordered a large supreme pizza for dinner, and they were eating it in silence.

"How was school?" Joyce finally asked.

Buffy shrugged. "It was okay."

There was a knock at the kitchen door. They looked. Lilah was standing outside.

Joyce stood up, walked over, and unlocked the door. "Lilah. What's up?"

"I have news. May I come in?"

"Of course." Joyce stepped aside.

Lilah walked into the kitchen. Joyce closed and locked the door.

Lilah looked at Buffy. "How are you doing, Buffy?"

Buffy shrugged.

"There's a deal on the table."

"A plea deal?" Buffy asked.

Lilah shook her head. "Actually, no, it doesn't require you to plea to anything." She sat down at the island. "The deal is...any potential charges go away...if you agree to work for the Sunnydale Police Department."

Buffy raised her eyebrows. She wasn't expecting this. "They want me to be a cop?"

"No. For one thing, you're underage. Basically, you'd still be the Slayer, but you'd be required to periodically check in with the police and keep them informed of all of the goings-on. In exchange, they will provide you with any assistance that you require."

"I see. And the charges are gone?" Buffy asked her.

Lilah shrugged and nodded. "In effect. But, Buffy, there's no statute of limitations on murder. The police could choose to charge you at any time in the future, if you fuck this up."

Buffy was genuinely curious. "Define fucking this up."

"Killing or harming innocent civilians. Abusing your privileges. Talking publicly about the deal." Lilah helped herself to some pizza.

"Well, I'd need to let my Watcher know. And the Slayerettes would need to know as well."

"The Slayerettes?" Lilah asked in confusion, a slice of pepperoni balancing on her lower lip.

"My friends. They've been protecting Sunnydale while I've been...laying low."

"I see. Well, I suppose that'll be okay, but we'll have to clear it with the police. So...you interested?" Lilah asked her.

Buffy suddenly hesitated. She looked at her mother. "What do you think I should do?"

Joyce waved her hand. "It's your decision."

"But still...I could use some moral guidance."

Joyce stared at her daughter. "You deserve to be punished. You know this."

Buffy nodded. "I know. But maybe...this is my punishment. Being thrown back into my work. Being held to task. Being held accountable for my actions."

Joyce shrugged. "Maybe."

"You yourself wanted to protect me. To keep me free."

"So I did."

Realizing she'd get nothing more from her mother, Buffy looked at Lilah. "I'll take the deal."

Lilah nodded. "Let's go to the station. Just remember: keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking."

When they got to the police station, Detective Stein took them into the interrogation room and presented them with a lot of paperwork. Lilah carefully went through it all with Buffy and Joyce.

"Please sign and date where marked, Ms. Summers."

Buffy did.

Detective Stein looked at Joyce. "Mrs. Summers, as Buffy's legal guardian, you are to ensure her day-to-day compliance with these terms and conditions."

Joyce nodded. "I understand."

"Please sign and date where marked."

Joyce did. Then Lilah did.

Afterward, Buffy was taken to have her picture taken. She also had to sign her name and be fingerprinted. Then she was sent to Detective Stein's desk to wait. She sat down in front of the desk. Her mother and Lilah were talking privately a distance away.

Detective Stein arrived, sat down at his desk, and pushed a card and a badge to Buffy. "Your ID and shield. You are required to keep them on your person at all times when you are out of your house."

Buffy picked them up and looked at them.

"Are we clear?" Detective Stein asked her pointedly.

Buffy looked at him. "Yes, sir."

"Welcome to the Sunnydale Police Department." Detective Stein stood up. "Before we go, there's someone that wants to meet you."

Buffy stood up, curious. She followed Detective Stein. Her mother and Lilah joined them. They headed toward the lobby.

Buffy looked at Lilah and leaned over to her ear. "How did you get them to agree to this?"

"Oh, it wasn't me. It was-"

"Mayor Wilkins!" Detective Stein greeted.

Mayor Richard Wilkins was waiting in the lobby for them. He looked to be a somewhat older man with short, neatly trimmed brown hair. Buffy stared at him in surprise.

Mayor Wilkins grinned. "There's the woman of the hour!" He offered Buffy his right hand.

Buffy timidly offered her right hand to the mayor. He clasped it and eagerly shook it. Buffy felt uncomfortable. When he released her hand, Buffy rubbed it.

"Paul, can I get a picture with this young lady?" Wilkins requested.

"Sure." Detective Stein did not sound enthusiastic.

Wilkins offered Stein a Polaroid camera. Stein took it.

Wilkins looked at Buffy. "Put the badge on. Show your ID."

Buffy clipped her badge to her shirt. She took out her wallet, put her identification card in front, opposite her driver's license, and held it facing forward. Mayor Wilkins put an arm around Buffy's shoulders and pulled her close. Buffy felt very uncomfortable.

"Smile!" Wilkins told her, flashing a grin.

Buffy forced a smile. Stein took a picture. It came out, and he offered it to Wilkins.

"Oh, one more for the newest of Sunnydale's finest."

Stein took another photo. He gave the first one and the camera to Wilkins and the second one to Buffy. Buffy put her wallet back into her pocket.

"Well, I gotta skedaddle! Nice to meet you, Buffy! Be seeing you!" Wilkins hurried out the door.

"Same!" Buffy called back.

Detective Stein walked away without saying goodbye, bringing the proceedings to an unceremonious end.

Lilah looked at Buffy and smiled. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order. It looks like you got an early happy birthday."

Buffy didn't say anything.

Lilah cleared her throat, looked at Joyce, and offered her right hand. "Joyce."

Joyce shook her hand. "Lilah."

When they let go, Buffy impulsively hugged Lilah tightly. Lilah let out a startled yelp.

"Thank you!" Buffy told Lilah, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to kiss Lilah on the cheek but restrained herself.

Lilah gently hugged Buffy. "Stay out of trouble. Keep your nose clean. And listen to your mother."

"I will!" Buffy promised.

They released each other. Lilah nodded at mother and daughter and then turned and walked outside.

Buffy looked at her mother, who stared at her for a moment and then walked outside without a word. Buffy followed her silently.

Jenny went to her Uncle Enyos' hotel room. He was currently lecturing Jenny.

"You know what it is, this thing vengeance?" Enyos asked her.

"Uncle, I have served you. I have been faithful. I need to know-"

"To the modern man, vengeance is a verb, an idea. Payback. One thing for another. Like commerce. Not with us. Vengeance is a living thing. It passes through generations. It commands. It kills."

"You told me to watch Angel. You told me to keep him from the girl. I tried. But there are other factors. There are terrible things happening here that we cannot control."

"We control nothing. We are not wizards, Janna. We merely play our part."

"Angel could be of help to us. I mean...he may be the only chance we have to stop the Judge."

"It is too late for that."

"Why?"

"The curse. Angel is meant to suffer, not to live as human. One moment of true happiness, of contentment, one moment where the soul that we restored no longer plagues his thoughts, and that soul is taken from him."

"Then...if, somehow, if...if it's happened...then Angelus is back."

"I hoped to stop it. But I realize now it was arranged to be so."

"Cordelia loves him."

"And now she will have to kill him."

Jenny stood up. "Unless he kills her first! Uncle, this is insanity! People are going to die."

"Yes. It is not justice we serve. It is vengeance."

Jenny sighed and grabbed her coat and bag. "You are a fool. We're all fools."

Amy and Katrina were on their way back to the library from the restroom.

"What about the Judge? Where do we stand?" Katrina asked Amy.

"On a pile of really boring books that say exactly the same thing."

"Lemme guess: 'no weapon forged'."

"'It took an army.'"

"Yeah, where's an army when you need one?" Katrina asked.

Amy suddenly had an idea.

"What?" Katrina asked her.

Amy shook her head. "I had an idea, but it's too fucking crazy to work."

"What is it?" Katrina asked out of curiosity.

The lights suddenly went out.

"What's going on?" Katrina asked.

"Let's get to the library."

"Amy. Katrina."

They turned to look. Angel - or rather Angelus - was standing there.

Katrina smiled. "Angel."

Amy smiled. "Thank Goddess you're okay. Did you see Cordelia?"

"Yeah. What's up with the lights?" Angelus asked them.

Amy shook her head. "I don't know."

"I...I got something to show you."

"Show us?" Katrina asked.

"Yeah. Trina, go get the others."

"Okay." Katrina turned and ran off.

"And Amy. Come here."

Amy slowly walked toward him. "What is it, Angel?"

"It's amazing."

Katrina was running for the library, but suddenly she stopped and turned around, realizing something was wrong.

Jenny arrived in the hall opposite Angelus, holding up a cross. "Amy, get away from him."

Amy stopped and looked at her. "What?"

"Walk to me."

"What are you talking about? It's Ang-"

Angelus had sneaked up behind her and grabbed her by the throat. She struggled initially but then concentrated and slowly pulled back his fingers. However, Angelus was able to get his fingers back around Amy's throat with some effort.

Katrina ran through the door from the other hall. "Don't do that!"

"Oh, I think I'll do that."

Amy gasped. "Angel..."

"He's not Angel anymore. Are you?" Jenny asked him.

"Wrong. I am Angel." Angelus tightened his grip on Amy. "At last!"

Katrina stared in horror. "Oh, my God." She was about to run toward them and attempt to tackle Angelus to the floor.

Angelus wagged a finger at her. "I got a message for Cordy."

Cordelia arrived behind him. "Why don't you give it to me yourself?"

Angelus spun around with Amy to face her. "Well, it's not really the kind of message you tell. It sort of involves finding the bodies of all your friends."

He tightened his grip on Amy even more, and she let out another pained yelp.

Cordelia stared at him. "This can't be you."

"Gee, we already covered that subject."

"Angel, there must be some part of you inside that still remembers who you are."

"Dream on, schoolgirl."

Katrina took the cross from Jenny and started toward Angelus.

"Your boyfriend is dead. You're all gonna join him."

Cordelia stared daggers at him. "Leave Amy alone and deal with me."

Angelus pinched Amy's cheek. "But she's so cute and helpless. Really a turn-on."

Katrina shoved the cross into Angelus' face from behind. "Get away from my girlfriend, you fucking asshole!"

He reeled back and dropped Amy. She cried out as she fell backward into Katrina, and they collapsed against the wall. Angelus turned to Jenny and warded her off with a hand as he started to back down the hall. When he reached Cordelia, he grabbed her by the shoulders. She inhaled in fright.

"Things are about to get very interesting." Angelus kissed her, shoved her into the wall, and backed out the door.

Amy and Katrina got up.

"Cordy, you okay?" Katrina asked her.

Cordelia just stared at the door.

They returned to the library, where they informed Tara and Harmony of what had happened. Giles paced. The girls sat at the table. Jenny was leaning against the shelves behind them.

"And we're absolutely certain that - that Angel has reverted to his former self?" Giles asked.

Amy nodded. "Absofuckinglutely."

"Giles, you wouldn't have believed him. He was so..." Katrina shuddered. "He came here to kill us."

"What are we gonna do?" Harmony asked.

Giles looked at her. "I'm leaning towards blind panic myself."

Jenny looked at him. "Rupert, don't talk like that. The kids."

"I'm sorry. It's just that things are bad enough with the Judge here. Angel crossing over to the other side...I-I-I wasn't prepared for that."

"None of us were."

Harmony noticed Cordelia looking down sadly. "Are you okay?"

Cordelia shook her head.

"Is there anything I can do?"

Cordelia shook her head. "I should've known. When I saw him at his apartment, he was different. The things he said-"

"What things?" Giles asked her.

"It's private."

"But you didn't know he had turned bad?" Jenny asked her.

Amy looked at Jenny. "How did you?"

Jenny looked at Amy. "What?"

"Well, you knew. You told me to get away from him."

"Well, I saw his fangs."

"If only we knew how it happened." Giles sat on the table.

"What do you mean?" Tara asked him.

"Well, something set it off. Some - Some, uh, event must've triggered his transformation." Giles looked at Cordelia. "Well, if anyone would know, Cordelia, it - it should be you."

"I don't."

"Well, did anything happen last night that - that might-"

"Giles, please, I can't." Cordelia stood up and ran from the library.

"Cordelia, I'm sorry, but we can't afford to...Cordelia!" Giles yelled.

Harmony watched Cordelia run, realizing what had happened. "Giles, shut up."

Giles sighed. "I'm not sure what we should do about Cordelia."

Jenny looked at him. "Assuming they don't attack tonight, I think we should just let her be."

Harmony nodded. "I agree."

Giles shook his head. "I-I-I can imagine what she's going through."

Harmony shook her head. "No, I don't think you can."

There was a knock on the front door. Buffy walked over and looked through the peephole. She saw Tara and Amy standing outside. She unlocked and opened the door.

Tara offered Buffy a weak smile. "Hey."

"Hey."

Tara kissed Buffy on the lips. "How are you feeling?"

Buffy shrugged. "Well, I'm off the hook for..." She fell silent.

"Did your lawyer cut a deal?" Tara asked her.

"Something like that." Buffy stepped aside. "Come in. We've got leftover pizza in the fridge. I'll tell you all about it."

Tara and Amy walked into the house. Buffy closed and locked the door.

"So what's been going on?" Buffy asked them as she headed toward the kitchen. "How's Cordy?"

Tara and Amy followed her.

"She's a mess." Amy sighed. "Better reheat all of that pizza. Shit just got real."

Buffy, Tara, and Amy were sitting at the island, eating pizza. Tara and Amy filled Buffy in.

"This is great. There's an unkillable demon in town, Angel's joined his team, Cordy is a basket case..." Tara sighed. "I'd say we've hit bottom."

"I have a plan."

Buffy and Tara looked at Amy.

"I don't know what's up with Angel, but I think I may have a way to deal with this Judge asshole. I had dismissed the idea at first. Too crazy. But with you working for the police..." Amy paused and stared at Buffy. "Just how much assistance do you think they can provide you?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

Cordelia walked into her room and gently closed the door behind her.

She sniffed as she unbuttoned her coat. She took it off and tossed it onto her desk chair. She looked down at the ring on her hand that Angel gave her. She pulled it off her finger and looked at it, bursting into tears. She went to her bed and lay on it, clutching the ring and crying uncontrollably. She curled up on her bed. Eventually, she fell asleep.

Cordelia and Angel were in bed, caressing each other. Cordelia ran her hand down his back, over his tattoo. They both had on their rings. Angel kissed her gently on the neck. Cordelia held him with her ringed hand. She kissed his fingers. They moved sensually, fully nude, him gently fucking her in the ass.

Cordelia gasped in delight. "Oh, yes, that's it, Angel. Fuck my ass."

Angel kissed her lips tenderly. "I love you."

She opened her eyes and for an instant saw his fangs.

A funeral was being held outside in bright daylight. Angel walked up to the grave. Cordelia looked over at him.

Angel looked up at her, his face bathed in sunlight. "You have to know what to see."

She looked at him, not really understanding, and then back down at the grave. She looked over at the other people attending the funeral and saw Jenny lifting the veil from her face.

Cordelia woke with a start, eyes open wide, in the light of day. She suddenly realized Jenny had something to do with this.

She couldn't locate her keys, but that didn't deter her. She walked to school. Once she got to school, Cordelia marched straight to Ms. Calendar's classroom.

There were students sitting at all of the computers, but Cordelia didn't care. Jenny and Giles saw her come in and smiled in greeting.

"Oh, Cordelia."

Cordelia went right past Giles, straight to Jenny, put her hand around her throat, and shoved her back onto her desk.

"Cordelia!" Giles tried to pull her off.

"What do you know?!" Cordelia demanded of Jenny.

A male student got up. "Should I get the principal?"

Giles looked at the class. "No, I-I-I'll deal with this. Y-Y-You're - You're all dismissed!"

All of the students got up and left the classroom.

"Did you do it? Did you change him?" Cordelia asked Jenny, tightening her grip around her neck.

Jenny gasped for air.

"For God's sake, calm down!" Giles told Cordelia.

"Did you know this was gonna happen?" Cordelia asked, digging her fingernails into Jenny's throat. "Answer me, you fucking cunt!"

Jenny struggled to breathe and felt herself losing consciousness.

Buffy happened to walk by the classroom, looked in, and gasped in shock. She ran inside. "Cordy, don't!"

"I'll fucking kill you!" Cordelia threatened Jenny.

Buffy pulled on Cordelia's shoulders. "Cordy, stop! Stop it!"

"Stay out of this, Buffy! The bitch deserves it!" Cordelia told her, her eyes fixated on Jenny.

"Cordy, don't become me!" Buffy pleaded.

Cordelia faltered.

"Don't become me! You're better than me!" Buffy started crying. "Show me up! Prove you're better than me!"

Cordelia let go and stepped back, horrified at what she'd almost done. She looked at Buffy. "Oh, God, Buffy, thank you. If you hadn't gotten through to me, I would have choked the life out of her."

"Why did you think she deserved it?" Buffy asked her.

"She had something to do with Angel's transformation."

Giles looked at Cordelia. "You can't go around accusing everybody-"

"I didn't know...exactly."

Giles, Cordelia, and Buffy looked at Jenny.

"I was told...Oh, God. I was sent here to watch Angel. They told me to keep you and Angel apart. They never told me what would happen."

Giles was surprised and confused. "Jenny!"

"I'm sorry, Rupert. Angel was supposed to pay for what he did to my people."

"And me? What was I supposed to be paying for?" Cordelia asked her, angry.

"I didn't know what would happen until after. I swear I would've told you."

Cordelia felt sick as her suspicion was confirmed. "So it was me. I did it."

"I think so. I mean...if you-"

"I don't understand."

Jenny looked at Giles. "The curse. If Angel achieved true happiness, even just a moment of..." She paused. "He would lose his soul."

Giles looked at Cordelia. "W-W-W-H-H-How do you know you were responsible f-for-"

Cordelia gave him a look.

Giles took off his glasses. "Oh."

They all looked down.

"If there is anything that-"

Cordelia looked at Jenny. "Curse him again."

"No, I-I can't. I mean...that magic is long lost even to my people."

"You did it once. It might not be too late to save him."

"It can't be done. I can't help you."

"Then take me to someone who can."

Jenny, Cordelia, and Giles walked into the hotel room.

"Oh, my God." Jenny rushed in to her uncle.

He was laid out on the bed, dead and covered with blood. Cordelia looked up at the wall behind him. A message was written there in blood: "WAS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO."

Giles looked at Cordelia. "He's doing this deliberately, Cordelia. He's trying to make it harder for you."

Cordelia stared at the message. "He's only making it easier. I know what I have to do."

"What?" Giles asked her.

"Kill him."

In Giles' office, Buffy lifted a long crate onto his desk. Giles, Amy, and Cordelia were standing nearby.

"Happy Birthday, Cordy. I hope you like the color." Buffy stepped back.

Buffy and Cordelia looked down at the box. Giles positioned a crowbar on the lock.

Buffy was tense. "Giles, we go to the factory first, but they might not be there. They're on the offensive. We need to figure out where they'd go."

Giles lifted on the crowbar and broke the clasp. "Agreed." He opened the box.

Cordelia looked into the box. "This is good." She looked at Buffy. "But it clashes with my outfit. You should use it, Buffy."

Buffy looked at her in surprise. "You sure?"

"Yeah. There's only one target that I'm after."

Jenny arrived in the doorway. "Do you, uh..."

Giles looked at her.

"Is there something I can do?" Jenny asked.

Cordelia avoided eye contact with her. "Get out."

"I-I just want to help."

Giles looked away. "She just said get out."

Cordelia looked at Giles. He looked sadly into the crate. Jenny turned around and left.

Amy looked at Buffy. "Do you want me to show you how to use it?"

Buffy nodded. "Fuck yeah."

Buffy, Cordelia, Harmony, and Giles went to Spike's warehouse. It was deserted.

Buffy walked up to the table. "I knew it."

Giles looked up and around. "We haven't a bead on where they would go?"

Buffy sighed. "I don't know, uh...somewhere crowded, I guess. I mean...the Judge needs bodies, right?"

"The Bronze?" Cordelia suggested.

Harmony looked at her. "It's closed tonight."

Cordelia sighed. "There's not a lot of choices in Sunnydale. It's not like people are gonna line up to get massacred."

Harmony thought for a moment. "Uh, guys? If I was gonna line up, I know where I'd go."

The team assembled, and Buffy drove them to the Sunnydale Mall. Buffy, Cordelia, Tara, Amy, Katrina, Harmony, and Giles crowded into an elevator. Buffy hit the button for the second floor, and the elevator carried them up.

The doors opened, and Buffy strode out. Giles and Amy followed, carrying the crate on their shoulders. The others brought up the rear.

Buffy marched toward her target, full of determination, crossbow in hand. "Everybody keep back. Damage control only. Take out any lesser vamps if you can. I'll handle the Smurf."

Buffy headed toward the refreshment stand, climbed on top of it, stood next to the Pepsi dispenser, and readied her crossbow. Her friends were standing around the refreshment stand, and Amy was opening the crate.

A young couple came up the stairs on the right. The Judge extended his arms, and his energy arced out to and through them. The Judge's energy arced through everyone in the area. They all froze where they stood. The Judge smiled widely. Angelus and Drusilla were enjoying the show.

Drusilla bounced with glee. "Oh, goody!"

Buffy fired a crossbow bolt. It hit the Judge in the chest and broke his concentration. The arcs of energy disappeared, and the people were all dazed.

The Judge grabbed at the bolt and pulled it from his chest. "Who dares?"

Angelus and Drusilla looked over at the refreshment stand.

Buffy smiled. "Think I got his attention."

"You're a fool. No weapon forged can stop me."

Buffy lowered the bow. "That was then."

Amy handed her the weapon from the box, and she raised the anti-tank rocket launcher to her shoulder.

"This is now." Buffy powered it on.

Angelus and Drusilla exchanged a look. Buffy set her sights and opened the trigger guard. The rest of the team took cover behind the snack counter. Angelus and Drusilla began to run. Buffy took aim. The Judge just looked at her. Angelus and Drusilla leaped over the stair railing. Buffy was ready.

"What's that do?" the Judge asked her.

Buffy pulled the trigger, and the rocket flew straight into the Judge's chest as Angelus and Drusilla flew over the railing. The Judge disappeared in an explosion of flame and smoke. The people in the mall screamed and started to panic and run. Angelus and Drusilla hit the floor below. Bits of charred Judge fell all around them. Buffy looked up from the rocket launcher's sights and looked over at them in satisfaction. Angelus got up and ran off. Drusilla freaked out and ran the other way. The team looked over the counter at what was left of the Judge. The smoke cloud from the explosion billowed its way up to the ceiling.

Buffy handed the weapon down to Amy, who put it back in the crate.

"Do you think he's dead?" Amy asked her.

"We can't be sure. Pick up the pieces and keep them separate."

They all started over to collect what was left of the Judge.

"Pieces? We get the pieces. Our job sucks!" Harmony complained.

Buffy jumped down from the refreshment stand and grinned. "Ooh, Pepsi!" She looked around. "Excuse me? I'd like to make a purchase?"

A frightened employee stood up behind her. "Um, on the house!"

"Cool!" Buffy grabbed a large cup and filled it with regular Pepsi.

Refreshment in hand, Buffy casually sipped her drink as she went to find a payphone to call the police.

Angelus came by and looked over at Cordelia. Frightened customers were running every which way. Cordelia saw him and started to give chase. Angelus struggled past some people and ran. Parts of the Judge lay everywhere and were still burning. The smoke reached the sprinklers, and they turned on everywhere.

Cordelia arrived at the side hall where she last saw Angelus. The sprinklers rained down on her, and she was getting soaked. She couldn't see Angelus anywhere. Suddenly, he came at her and hit her from behind. She fell over backward.

"You know what the worst part was, huh? Pretending that I loved you. If I'd known how easily you'd give it up, I wouldn't have even bothered."

Cordelia got up. "That doesn't work anymore. You're not Angel." Even as she said it, though, she was having her doubts.

"You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? It doesn't matter. The important thing is you made me the man I am today!" Angelus smiled evilly.

Cordelia kicked him in the face. He blocked her next swing and punched her in the face and in the gut. He grabbed her and swung her around to throw her, but her footing was good, and she regained her balance. He kicked her in the face, and this time she fell to the floor. Angelus grabbed Cordelia as she tried to get up and heaved her over onto her back again. She rolled around to her feet and came at him. She swung, but he blocked and hit her instead. He followed up with a backhand punch, and she hit the floor again.

"Not quittin' on me already, are ya?"

Cordelia looked up at him.

"Come on, Cordy. You know you want it, huh?"

She leaped up and kicked him in the face. He arched backward and then snapped forward. Cordelia kneed him in the chin and then delivered a series of punches to his gut. She ended with a punch to his face. He wasn't fazed and lunged at her. She grabbed his arm and diverted him into a display case. He crashed through the glass but immediately straightened back up, breaking the top pane and the frame of the case as well. She kicked him in the face and again in the chest, and he staggered backward into a potted tree. She pulled out a stake and stood ready to finish the job. Angelus straightened up and faced her. Cordelia didn't move to strike but instead lowered the stake and just stared at him.

"You can't do it. You can't kill me."

Her anger took over, and she kicked him extremely hard in the penis. Angelus grabbed his penis and moaned in extreme pain. He collapsed to his knees.

Cordelia turned her back on him and walked away. "Give me time."

Buffy pulled up in her van on the street in front of Cordelia's house to drop her off. She looked over at her and shut off the engine. They unfastened their seatbelts. The only noise was that of the crickets outside.

Buffy looked at Cordelia. "It's not over. I suppose you know that. He'll come after you, especially. According to Giles, he's likely to strike out at the things that made him the most human."

Cordelia looked at her. "You must be so disappointed in me."

"No." Buffy shook her head. "No, no, I'm not. Far from it."

"But this is all my fault."

"No, it's not. I know you loved him. And...he...has proven more than once that he loved you. You couldn't have known what would happen. The coming months are gonna be hard...on all of us."

Cordelia shook her head, ashamed of herself. "But you're still dealing with your...issues, and here I was, needing you to help my sorry ass."

Buffy stared into Cordelia's eyes. "I will always have to deal with my issues. I made my bed, and I have to lie in it. But I was going insane with nothing to do, and I needed to get back into action, so don't blame yourself for that. If it's guilt you're looking for, Cordy, I'm - I'm not your girl. All you will get from me is - is my support. And my respect. And my love. You supported me when I was at my lowest, and now I'm doing the same for you. That's what friends do for each other. You have the potential to be a great Slayer, Cordelia. If whatever...powers that be...choose you, well, they could do worse."

Cordelia smiled at Buffy through her tears. They hugged each other warmly.

When they released each other, Buffy suddenly remembered something. "Oh!" She opened the glove compartment and took out a small, wrapped present. "Here's your present. I know it's two days late, but after the party was interrupted..."

Cordelia took the present and unwrapped it. It was a small jewelry box. She opened it. Inside was a silver necklace and silver heart locket.

Cordelia touched it with her fingers. "Oh, my God, it's beautiful. Thank you." She looked at Buffy. "But I'm not dating you."

Buffy laughed for the first time in a long while. "Tara will be glad to hear that. I had gotten it for you to put a picture of Angel inside, so he'd always be close to your heart."

Cordelia smiled warmly at Buffy. "Thank you."

Cordelia was sitting on the couch in the living room, her legs drawn up.

Her mother came in, holding a plate with two cupcakes, one with a candle, and a large coffee mug. "Daddy sends his wishes. He's sorry he couldn't be here."

"Uh-huh. But my birthday was two days ago, y'know. January 14?" Cordelia reminded her.

"Was it?" Charisma set down the plate and mug and looked around for the matches. "Harmony dropped off the rest of your real cake earlier." She found the matches.

"No. This is good."

Charisma sat back on the couch with her legs drawn up. "So what'd you do for your birthday? Did you have fun?"

Cordelia looked down, then back up. "I got older."

Charisma looked into her face. "You look the same to me."

She leaned forward to the table and struck a match to light the candle. The wick started to burn, and she blew out the match. She set the matchbook and spent match on the table and leaned back on the couch again, facing her daughter.

"Happy Birthday." Charisma smiled. "I don't have to sing, do I?"

Cordelia looked down at her hands. "No."

Charisma indicated the burning candle. "Well, go on, make a wish."

Cordelia stared at it for a long moment. "I'll just let it burn."

Charisma reached up and stroked her daughter's hair. Cordelia leaned over and rested her head on her mother. Charisma continued gently stroking Cordelia's hair.